For Northeast India, inland waterways are not only a transport option; they are linked with connectivity, cargo movement, urban mobility, river tourism and regional economic growth. In this context, the Inland Waterways Authority of India signed MoUs worth about ₹3,000 crore during India Maritime Week 2025. The agreements aim to boost cargo transport, water-based urban mobility and river tourism in the Northeast, while developing inland waterways as a relatively eco-friendly alternative to road and rail transport.
From an exam point of view, the development connects economy, infrastructure, environment and regional development. The Authority signed an MoU with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. for transporting methanol and formalin through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and National Waterways. The arrangement is expected to support exports from Bogibeel, Pandu and Jogighopa terminals to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, and also strengthen domestic cargo movement through National Waterway-1 and National Waterway-2. The initiative has an estimated investment of about ₹400 crore for tanker vessels and related infrastructure.
Another key MoU with the Government of Assam focuses on developing a Water Metro along the Brahmaputra in Tezpur, Guwahati and Dibrugarh. The project is estimated at about ₹1,000 crore, excluding land costs, and aims to integrate water-based mobility with road, rail and bus systems. A ₹500 crore agreement for river cruise tourism, a ₹1,000 crore agreement for modern tug-barges, and a ₹299 crore provision for cruise terminals at Neamati, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat and Guijan are also important for strengthening the Northeast's river-based economy. For static GK, the issue links with the Brahmaputra, National Waterways, India-Bangladesh connectivity and multi-modal connectivity.